How Much Does Website Maintenance Cost?

You've invested in a website for your business. But here's something many business owners don't realize: the cost doesn't stop once the site is built. Just like a car needs oil changes and tune-ups, your website needs regular maintenance to stay secure, fast, and functional.

In this guide, I'll break down exactly what website maintenance costs, what should be included, and how to decide whether to handle it yourself or hire a professional.

Website Maintenance Cost Overview

Here's what you can expect to pay for website maintenance in 2025:

What's Included in Website Maintenance?

A good maintenance plan should cover all the essentials to keep your site running smoothly. Here's what to look for:

1. Web Hosting

This is the "rent" for your website's space on the internet. Quality hosting ensures your site loads quickly and stays online reliably.

• Shared hosting: $5-$15/month (budget option, slower)
• Managed hosting: $25-$100/month (faster, better support)
• Premium hosting: $100+/month (high-traffic sites)

2. Domain Name Renewal

Your domain (like yourbusiness.com) needs to be renewed annually. This typically costs $10-$20 per year. Some maintenance plans include this; others don't.

3. SSL Certificate

The SSL certificate gives you the secure "https" and padlock icon. Many hosts include free SSL certificates, but premium certificates can cost $50-$200/year.

4. Security Monitoring

Your website needs protection against hackers, malware, and spam. Security maintenance includes:

• Firewall protection
• Malware scanning
• Spam filtering
• Security patches and updates

5. Software Updates

If your site runs on WordPress or another CMS, it needs regular updates. This includes:

• Core software updates
• Theme updates
• Plugin updates
• Compatibility testing after updates

Outdated software is the #1 way websites get hacked. This isn't optional.

6. Backups

Regular backups ensure you can recover your site if something goes wrong. Good maintenance includes:

• Daily or weekly automated backups
• Off-site backup storage
• Easy restoration if needed

7. Performance Monitoring

Someone should be watching to make sure your site stays fast and doesn't go down. This includes:

• Uptime monitoring
• Speed optimization
• Database maintenance
• Image optimization

8. Content Updates

Most maintenance plans include a set number of content updates per month, like:

• Updating text or images
• Adding new pages
• Posting blog articles
• Updating business information

DIY vs. Professional Maintenance

Should you handle maintenance yourself or hire someone? Here's an honest comparison:

DIY Maintenance

Pros:

• Lower cost ($10-$50/month for hosting)
• Full control over everything
• Learn valuable skills

Cons:

• Takes your time (several hours per month)
• Requires technical knowledge
• Easy to miss critical updates
• You're responsible when things break

Professional Maintenance

Pros:

• Hands-off - someone else handles it
• Expert knowledge and monitoring
• Quick response when issues arise
• Regular reports so you know what's happening

Cons:

• Higher monthly cost
• Dependent on provider for changes

Which Should You Choose?

DIY might work if: You have technical skills, enjoy learning, and have time to dedicate to your website regularly.

Professional maintenance is better if: You'd rather focus on running your business, you're not technical, or your website is important to generating revenue.

What Happens Without Maintenance?

Skipping website maintenance is like never changing your car's oil. It might seem fine at first, but problems are building up. Here's what can happen:

• Security breaches: Outdated software gets hacked. The average cost of a small business data breach is $120,000.
• Website downtime: Your site goes offline, and you lose customers.
• Slow performance: Page speed drops, hurting your Google rankings and conversions.
• Broken features: Forms stop working, images disappear, layouts break.
• Lost data: Without backups, a crash means starting over from scratch.

The cost of fixing these problems is almost always more than the cost of preventing them.

Our Maintenance Plan

At Thorn Web Solutions, we offer straightforward website maintenance for service businesses:

• $125/month - Everything included
• Reliable, fast hosting
• Daily backups
• Security monitoring and updates
• SSL certificate
• Content updates (up to 2 hours/month)
• Monthly performance reports
• Priority support when you need help

No hidden fees, no surprise charges. Just peace of mind knowing your website is taken care of.

Questions to Ask Any Maintenance Provider

Before signing up for any maintenance plan, ask these questions:

1. What exactly is included? Get a detailed list.
2. How often are backups made? Daily is ideal.
3. How quickly do you respond to emergencies? Same-day is standard.
4. Are there limits on content updates? Know what's included.
5. What happens if my site gets hacked? Is cleanup included?
6. Do I own my website? You should always own it.
7. What's the cancellation policy? Avoid long-term contracts.

The Bottom Line

Website maintenance isn't glamorous, but it's essential. Here's my honest advice:

• Budget $100-$200/month for professional maintenance if your website matters to your business
• At minimum, make sure backups and security updates are handled
• Don't ignore it - the cost of neglect is almost always higher than the cost of maintenance

Think of it as insurance for your online presence. A small monthly investment protects the larger investment you've made in your website.

Have questions about maintaining your website? Reach out - I'm happy to give you honest advice, even if you're not looking for a provider right now.

Chris Thorn

Founder of Thorn Web Solutions. I help service businesses build professional websites that actually get results. Serving clients nationwide.